Within the breathtaking peaks of the French Alps, Val d’Isère has long been a magnet for keen skiers and winter enthusiasts. And this season took it to a new level as the iconic resort welcomed a dazzling newcomer with the transformed Club Med Val d’Isère.
Responsible Tourism
Of course Club Med could have demolished and built a brand new hotel in it’s place, but by remodelling an existing building, Club Med has demonstrated its commitment to limiting its environmental footprint to the tune of almost 51 million euros in fact!
Better still they report to have installed heat pumps for the production of hot water, more efficient insulation and glazing, and the an advanced building management system (BMS) to make it as energy efficient as possible.
Exclusive Collection Resort
In December, I was lucky enough to be at the launch of Club Meds first Exclusive Collection resort within the French mountains, and the pleasure was absolutely all mine.
Club Med has been in this high altitude village since 1962 and since then there’s been a constant program of improving hospitality and infrastructure in order to provide its guests with an ever more fulfilling holiday experience.
Gone is the familiar 4-star experience and now we were welcomed by a luxurious 5-star Exclusive Collection resort, exuding exceptional blend of alpine elegance and personalised pampering – and with direct access to world-class skiing.
Think warm inviting chalet atmosphere meets small luxurious hotel. Rich wood accents, crackling fireplaces, and panoramic windows that frame breathtaking mountain views.
With just 216 rooms they can really focus on every guest and offer some of the most spacious accommodation in Val d’Isère with 65% of rooms over 30 m2.
Club Med Val D’Isère
The communal areas were also spectacular celebrating the sporting, cultural and natural heritage of Val d’Isère.
“It’s neither a hotel, nor a chalet, nor an alpine farm. It’s a space which has been totally enlarged and renovated. It celebrates the authenticity, comfort, warmth, beautiful materials, sense of detail, special characteristics, and history of Val d’Isère – that of a pastoral village transformed in the 1930s into the world-famous ski resort we see today.”
Marc Hertrich, Architect, Studio MHNA
The guest rooms and suites made me almost not want to leave the room, with gorgeous, sleek modern furnishings, beautiful bedding, and luxurious bathrooms to match. but the skiing and mountian views were an equal temptation.
Of course being a foodie, this was my next stop. Le Bellevard and Les Millésimes are the two main restaurants, where they deliver the very best of the Savoie’s local ingredients. I enjoyed the endless banquet buffet breakfast as well as the indulgent dinners and desert to die for. There was no shedding pounds skiing here!
Ski-in/Ski-out
For après there was a mix of lounge and electro-jazz music playing at Le Chalet, their terrace bar which served Cocktails, beers, virgin-mojitos, in fact the list was endless, it made it hard to find a reason to leave the resort
We skied every day under glistening blue skies and sunshine, experiencing the finest skiing in Europe.
The resort offers ski-in/ski-out access to the vast Val d’Isère Tignes ski area, with over 300 kilometers of pristine pistes for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. La Solaise is a basking area of gently rolling beginners slopes with varying gradients for improving skiers, enabling all abilities to be together in the heart of the mountains.
Most advanced beginners can venture across to the neighbouring resort of Tignes, or for complete beginners there is a free chair lift (le Village) right down in the village, enabling you to hone your first go on skis under the watchful eye of the many ski schools on offer.
Legs burning at the end of the day, you can return to the resort’s luxurious spa with hammam, infinity pool and massage.
Club Med Programmes
I was at Club Med Val d’Isère as a solo skier, but this resort equally lends itself to families too. There are dedicated children’s clubs, enabling adults to enjoy après-ski whilst their children are entertained and cared for by qualified staff. they will even take children from the age of 4 upwards to start their skiing journey in the Ski Kindergarten (Jardin des Neiges) with Mini Club Med, conveniently located at the foot of the resort.
Teenagers also have their own programs: the Teens Club for 11-13 year-olds and the Chill Pass for 14-17 year-olds. Both have been designed to give them the kind of vacation they’re looking for, a range of exciting sports, new friendships and creative activities, depending on what they feel like doing.
This is more than just a luxurious hotel; it’s an all-inclusive experience that takes care of everything. From gourmet meals and lift tickets to ski lessons and evening entertainment, all you need to do sit back and enjoy.
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